Improvement in reed-organ couplers



G. B. KELLY. eed-Urgan Couplers.

Patented Aug. 4,1874.

FIC-.2.

W/TNESSES.

` UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE B. KELLY, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

IMPROVEMENT IN REED-ORGAN COUPLERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. l 53,832, dated August4, 1874; application tiled March 9.187/1.

' tion consists in the manner of hinging the support or platform, uponwhich arearran ged diagonally a series ofthe above coupling-rods,whereby, in its operation to throw the couplers into position foraction, a tilting or swinging motion is given to the support, renderingless movement necessary than in coupling devices as at presentconstructed, and also enabling it to be operated with greater ease andfacility.

In the acconipanying plate of drawings my invention is illl'lst-rated,Figure l being a plan view ofthe support, showin g the coupling-rods inposition upon it; Fig. 2, vertical transverse section with a key inpositionand the support and coupling rods in connection for operation;Fig. 3, vertical transverse section with the coupling device out oi'connection; Fig. 4, a

l front view of support and action-board.

A, in the drawings, represents the valve or action-board; B, thesupport, on which are arranged the coupling-rods O. This support B issuspended on hinges a upon its under side, at or about the middle of itswidth, to the action-board A. Under the support B, and turning inbearings l) on action-board A, is a rod or wire, D, extending the lengthof support B, the rod being operated by the cranks c. On this rod D arecams or eccentrics d, in the present instance formed by bending the wireI), as shown. Pressing the crank c downward turns the cams d, whichelevate the front edge g of support B, and by the tilting movement ofthe board depresses the back edge h correspondingly. The crank c can beconnected to a stop or register at the front of the instrument tooperate it, as is usual in such instruments. By hanging the support B asabove described, by which the tilting or swinging movement is impartedto it, simplies the working parts necessary to operate it, renders iteasier of action, and requires less power. The coupling-rods O, one foreach key, in the present instance are formed from one piece of wire,arranged side by side diagonally to the length of and on the support B,extending in the present instance fromy near the front end of each keyto a valve belonging to its octave-key. The coupling-rod C has astraight or middle portion, E, which is arranged on the support B sothat it can turn or roll in bearings formed of pins 7c at its sides, andkept in place by the bars J and K over the pins k, secured to thesupport B by screws, retaining each coupling-rod C in its seat betweenthe pins 7c, but leaving sufcient space for the free rolling movementofthe coupling-rod in its operation. At the end F it is bent at or aboutright angles to its middle portion E, forming a lever, L, and at theend, of this lever L it is bent so that the portion M is in a line'parallel to the middle portion E. At the other end, G, the wire is bentin a similar way and in the same general plane, excepting that the leverportion N is slightly arched vertically, so that in its movements itwill not interfere with the next coupling-rod. H, a key; I, thepush-pin, through which, by pressing the key H down, the valve T isopened, as is common in all reed-organs. The dotted lines in Fig. lrepresent the position of the key as above the support-board B. P, abutton extending downward from the bottom ot' key H, and regulated as toits distance from the key H by the screw l. This button is placeddirectly over the part O of coupling-rod. The corresponding part M, atthe other end of coupling-rod, is over and bears upon a shoulder oriiange, m, on pushpin I. The coupling-rods are brought into and put outof connection with the keys and the push-pins to the valves to beoperated upon as follows: Pressing down the crank c, the support B, asabove described, is swung into position, as shown in Fig. 2, bringingthe coupling-rods in connection with the keys and valves. New, pressingdown the key H through its button P, bearing on the part O, the lever Nis forced down, turning in its bearings the middle portion E, andcarrying down the lever L, which forces down push-pin I by the part M,and opening the valve connected therewith. Letting go of the key, thecoupling-rod C assumes its natural position by the upward pressure ofthe Valve through its sprin g, ready for operation, as above described,a second time. rIhe parts O and M of the coupling-rods C are bothcylindrical, and in their contact and action upon the surfaces of thebutton P and flange m to push-pin I, have a rolling motion, and the lineof action of the parts O and M when operated is not changed in relationto their fulcrum in the middle portion E, but is parallel and concentricto and with the axis ot' the coupling-rod, the power in operating itbeing the same from the coinmeneement to the end of its movementanobject very desirable in the nicety and deli cacy of touch required inall musical instruments of similar nature. The part M of couplin grod Sis shown as front of the push-pin I, and the others at the back.Although it can be used in either place, it is preferable to use it asshown in couplingr0d S. The various parts bea-ring or moving one uponanother are all covered with woolen cloth or similar material to preventnoise or rattling. The parts O and M of coupling-rods can be bent to theright, it'dcsired, instead ot', as shown, to the left.

It is obvious that the above coupling device can be constructed andarranged to connect any valve with any key when other intervals besidesthe octave, as herein described, are desired to be sounded by the reeds.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secureby Letters Iatent, is-

l. The support B, carrying the couplingrods C, and hinged at its middleon the action-board A, so that a swinging or tilting niotion is given toit for operating the coupling rods, all being combined and arrangedsubstantially as described, for the object specified.

2. In combination with the support I3, the cams d, rod I), and crank c,all constructed and arranged to operate substantially as hereindescribed.

GEO. I3. KELLY.

Vitnesses EDWIN W. BROWN, J. I). McELnoY.

